Building a Life That God Rewards

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Maturity Is Evidenced by Unity and the Fruit of the Spirit

True spiritual maturity is not measured by religious activity or knowledge, but by the presence of Christlike character—especially love and unity—within the body of believers. When jealousy, strife, and division are present, it reveals spiritual immaturity and a failure to walk in the Spirit. Instead, as we yield to the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident in our lives, drawing us closer to Jesus and to one another. Examine your heart: are you building up unity, or are you sowing discord? The call is to grow beyond spiritual infancy and let the Spirit transform your attitudes and relationships. [06:40]

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where jealousy or division has taken root? How can you take a step today to pursue unity and display the fruit of the Spirit in that relationship?

Day 2: Build on the Foundation of Christ, Not on Temporary Things

Every believer’s life is built on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ, redeemed by His work and not by our own efforts. Yet, what we build on that foundation—whether with eternal or temporary materials—matters greatly. The things done for Christ will endure, while those done for self or the world will not last. We are called to live intentionally, investing our time, talents, and treasures in what pleases God and bears lasting fruit. Consider what you are building with your life, and whether it will stand the test of eternity. [12:44]

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV)
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to invest in things that are temporary rather than eternal? What practical change can you make today to build with “gold, silver, and costly stones” for Christ?

Day 3: God Rewards Faithful Service—Even the Smallest Act

God sees and values every act of service done in Jesus’ name, no matter how small or unnoticed by others. Whether it’s a simple kindness, a generous gift, or a quiet prayer, nothing escapes His notice, and He promises to reward each faithful deed. Our motivation should not be earthly recognition, but the assurance that Jesus Himself will repay us—sometimes in ways we cannot see now, but always in eternity. Let this truth encourage you to serve others wholeheartedly, knowing your labor in the Lord is never in vain. [17:54]

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Reflection: What is one small act of service or generosity you can offer today, trusting that God sees and will reward it—even if no one else does?

Day 4: Seek, Submit, Serve, Suffer, and Sacrifice for Christ

A life that God rewards is marked by daily seeking Him, submitting to His will, serving others, enduring suffering for His sake, and making sacrifices for the gospel. Each of these actions, done in faith, is precious to God and will be repaid—sometimes a hundredfold. Whether you are working at your job, helping a neighbor, enduring hardship, or giving up something valuable for Christ, remember that He promises to honor your faithfulness. Let your motivation be to please the Lord, not people, and to live for His eternal “well done.” [25:03]

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Reflection: Which of the five S’s—seeking, submitting, serving, suffering, or sacrificing—do you find most challenging right now? What is one step you can take today to grow in that area for Christ’s sake?

Day 5: Live for the Applause of Heaven, Not the Praise of the World

The world may not recognize or celebrate your faithfulness to Christ, but heaven does. The greatest reward is not earthly applause, but hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Your life, your choices, and your sacrifices matter eternally, even if they go unnoticed here. Don’t settle for giving Jesus your leftovers or living for temporary recognition. Instead, live each day with the end in mind, longing for the approval of the One who gave everything for you. Remember, you’re not home yet—the best welcome is still to come. [30:17]

Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to seek the approval of people rather than the applause of heaven? How can you shift your focus today to live for Christ’s “well done”?

Sermon Summary

A life that God rewards is not built on outward activity or religious performance, but on the foundation of Jesus Christ and a heart that seeks to walk in the Spirit. Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind us that spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know or do, but by the character and unity that flow from a life surrendered to Christ. The church in Corinth was divided because believers were acting like spiritual infants—saved, but still living according to the world’s standards, marked by jealousy and strife. Paul calls them, and us, to grow up in Christ, to move beyond spiritual immaturity, and to let the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—define our lives.

Every believer is building a life, and the foundation is Jesus. We are redeemed by His work, not our own. Yet, what we build on that foundation matters. Paul uses the imagery of gold, silver, and costly stones versus wood, hay, and straw to illustrate that only what is done for Christ will last. There will be a day when each of us stands before Christ—not to be condemned, but to be evaluated and rewarded for our faithfulness. This is the “Bema seat” judgment, where Jesus Himself will reward every act done for Him, no matter how small or unseen.

Rewards are not just for the great and visible acts, but for every cup of water given, every act of service, every sacrifice, every moment of suffering for Christ’s sake, and every day spent seeking and submitting to Him. These are the things that will be repaid—not always in this life, but certainly in eternity. Jesus promises that nothing done for Him will be overlooked. The call is to stop living for the temporary, fleeting things of this world and to invest in what is eternal. Our time, talents, and treasures are entrusted to us for a purpose: to build a life that God can reward.

The applause of heaven is not for those who are celebrated by the world, but for those who are faithful to Christ, even when no one else sees. One day, the greatest reward will be to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Until then, let us lock arms, surrender daily, and live for the reward that only He can give.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual maturity is revealed not by knowledge or activity, but by character and unity. Paul identifies the root of division in the church as spiritual immaturity—believers who are saved but still act like the world. True growth in Christ is seen in the fruit of the Spirit and a life marked by love and unity, not strife and jealousy. The evidence of the Spirit’s work is not in outward performance, but in transformed attitudes and relationships. [03:53]
2. The foundation of every believer’s life is Jesus Christ, and nothing else can secure our salvation. We are redeemed solely by His work, not by our own efforts or good deeds. However, what we build on that foundation—how we live, serve, and love—will be tested and revealed for its true value. Only what is done for Christ, in the power of the Spirit, will endure and be rewarded. [12:44]
3. There will be a day when every believer stands before Christ to be evaluated and rewarded. This is not a judgment of condemnation, but of reward for faithfulness. Every act, no matter how small or hidden, will be brought to light and repaid by Jesus Himself. The rewards He gives are eternal, not temporary, and nothing done for Him will be forgotten or overlooked. [17:54]
4. The path to a life God rewards is found in five practices: seeking God daily, submitting to Him in all things, serving others, suffering for Christ’s sake, and sacrificing for the gospel. Each of these is an opportunity to invest in eternity, to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Faithfulness in these areas, even in the mundane or difficult moments, is precious to God and will be richly rewarded. [21:14]
5. The applause of heaven is reserved for those who are faithful to Christ, not for those who are celebrated by the world. Earthly recognition is fleeting, but the reward from Jesus is eternal. Even when our service goes unnoticed by others, God sees and will honor every sacrifice, every act of love, and every moment of obedience. The greatest reward is to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” [30:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - The Problem of Division in Corinth
[03:08] - Spiritual Infancy and Worldliness
[03:53] - The Marks of Spiritual Maturity
[06:40] - Fruit of the Spirit vs. Works of the Flesh
[12:44] - Building on the Foundation of Christ
[13:45] - The Two Judgments: Believers and Unbelievers
[14:27] - The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema)
[15:40] - The Meaning of Reward and Wage
[17:54] - Eternal Rewards for Faithfulness
[18:42] - Storing Up Treasures in Heaven
[21:14] - Five Practices God Rewards
[22:15] - Submitting and Serving in Daily Life
[23:44] - Suffering and Sacrifice for Christ
[25:03] - Investing in the Gospel and God’s Kingdom
[28:41] - The Applause of Heaven
[30:17] - Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV) — > By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV) — > The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) — > For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 3, what is the only foundation that can be laid in a believer’s life? What are the different materials Paul says we can build with?
In Galatians 5, what are some of the “acts of the flesh” that Paul lists, and how do they contrast with the “fruit of the Spirit”?
What does Paul say will happen to each person’s work on the “Day” when it is tested by fire?
According to the sermon, what was the main reason for division in the Corinthian church? [[03:08]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the imagery of building with gold, silver, costly stones versus wood, hay, and straw? What do these materials represent in the life of a believer? [[12:44]]
How does Paul define spiritual maturity in the context of the Corinthian church? What evidence does he look for? [[03:53]]
What is the significance of the “judgment seat of Christ” (Bema seat) for believers? How is this different from the judgment for unbelievers? [[14:27]]
The sermon mentions that every act done for Christ, no matter how small, will be rewarded. Why do you think God values even the smallest acts of faithfulness? [[17:54]]

Application Questions

The sermon says spiritual maturity is seen in character and unity, not just knowledge or activity. In what area of your life do you see the most need for growth in the fruit of the Spirit? Is there a specific relationship or situation where you need to pursue unity or let go of jealousy or strife? [[03:53]]
Paul warns against building with “wood, hay, and straw”—things that won’t last. What are some activities or pursuits in your life that might be more about temporary recognition than eternal value? How could you shift your focus to invest in what is eternal this week? [[12:44]]
The sermon lists five practices God rewards: seeking God daily, submitting to Him, serving others, suffering for Christ, and sacrificing for the gospel. Which of these comes most naturally to you, and which is the hardest? What is one step you could take to grow in the hardest area? [[21:14]]
Think about your time, talents, and treasures. Is there an area where you feel you’ve been giving God your “leftovers” instead of your best? What would it look like to offer Him your first and best in that area? [[25:03]]
The “applause of heaven” is for those who are faithful, even when no one else sees. Can you recall a time when you served or sacrificed for Christ and felt unnoticed? How does knowing that Jesus sees and will reward every act change your perspective? [[30:17]]
The sermon challenges us to “lock arms, surrender daily, and live for the reward only Jesus can give.” What is one practical way you can encourage or partner with someone else in your group to pursue faithfulness together this month? [[30:17]]
If you were to stand before Jesus today and He asked, “What did you do with the life, time, talents, and treasures I gave you?”—how would you answer? Is there anything you would want to change starting this week? [[25:03]]

Sermon Clips

So Paul is saying, the unsaved, they don't understand the things of God because they're not born of the Spirit. The saved, they understand the things of God because they are born of the Spirit, because they put their faith in Jesus Christ. But now, in our passage, Paul is introducing a third person, a third type of a person. He's describing a person who's saved but acts like they're not saved. He calls them a worldly Christian. [00:01:53] (27 seconds)

Every one of us is created by God, but not every one of us becomes a child of God. You become a child of God the moment you receive Christ and you're born again of the spirit. In that moment, Paul is saying here, he's saying, wait a minute, are you guys, look, you're not natural. You're supernatural. You're born of the spirit, but you're acting like the world, you're acting like human beings without Christ. [00:03:53] (22 seconds)

Paul tied spiritual maturity not to activities, but to character and attitude. Paul knew if you were walking in the Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in your life. He knew if you were walking in the Spirit, you would be more and more like Jesus. [00:06:24] (17 seconds)

Paul loved these folks and understood that if they continued to try to live the Christian life with one foot in Christ and one foot in the world they were going to reap what they sowed because he understood when you sow a thought you reap an action when you sow an action you reap a character when you sow a character you reap a destiny. [00:08:48] (28 seconds)

Paul is teaching that every believer is like a building and they have a foundation and that foundation is Jesus Christ in other words every believer that's a follower of Jesus Christ Jesus has redeemed them every follower of Jesus has been redeemed by the work of Jesus Christ not their works but they're putting their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. [00:10:26] (23 seconds)

Paul is saying, what we do with our life for Jesus Christ will last, what we do in the flesh or for the world will go up in smoke. Paul is exhorting the followers, the believers in Corinth, to live for Christ, not the world, to build a life that God would reward. [00:12:53] (21 seconds)

Listen, there is not one good work that you will do for Jesus Christ that will be passed by, overlooked, or unrewarded. Not one cup of water, not one kind word, not one prayer in the middle of the night, not one faithful witness, not one generous gift will go unnoticed. He will pay you back. [00:17:54] (28 seconds)

You can say, from now on, I'm going to go to that, or quit the job. But if you're going to stay at the job, you're going to say, you know what, I am going to work for Jesus. I am going to serve you, Jesus. And I'm going to pick up my check from you, Jesus, every day. You do that, and you will be rewarded. [00:22:22] (19 seconds)

So when you give your time, talent, and treasures, and you partner in the gospel, Jesus is telling you not just 30, not 60, but a hundredfold. When you invest something and you know you're going to get a hundredfold back, that's a great investment. And that's what he's saying. [00:24:52] (18 seconds)

And then Mr. Morris said this. In that moment, the Lord spoke to him and said to him, You're not home yet. Oh, wait. You're not home yet. All heaven is applauding. But the greatest applause. The greatest applause. The greatest applause. is the one that comes from the Lord Jesus Christ who says, well done, good and faithful servant. May that be for all of us. May we lock arms in this generation for such a time as this. [00:29:48] (47 seconds)

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